Video: What is “Biblical Justice” anyway?

Here’s a great video looking at what “biblical justice” is from former Sojourners editor Joyce Hollyday.
Does “justice” mean giving people what they deserve?
Does it mean protecting the innocent from the guilty?
Does it mean people getting what they need?
Check it out and learn for yourself:

8 Responses

The OT has some fairly harsh proscription regarding the law. The law is very strict and uncompromising; fortunately we have the prophets to mitigate the harsher aspect of the law. It’s a right balance between the two, which in my opinion was summed up in Jesus’ ministry.

I shall have mercy and not sacrifice. Therefore it is my understanding that mercy is more difficult than sacrifice. There is a human tendency to want to simply and self-justify, which is why mercy means more. Not to diminish the importance of sacrifice, perhaps mercy is its own sacrifice…yes?

I liked the vid, good stuff. Look into Buber, when you have the time. Christianity, at its heart, is an existentialist faith which requires above all things the acknowledgement of the other. You must love G-d with the core of your being, you must love your neighbor as you love yourself, and of course you must love yourself-and don’t be stingy about it.

Ms. Hollyday’s lesson on manna appears more eisegetic (reading her own ideas into Scripture) than sound. However, Scripture does proclaim God’s desire for justice among people, so how might that look? First, justice is not at the expense of truth. A just society would not fail to confront false accusation or misrepresentation of fact, on any side. Second, neither rich nor poor should be treated with favoritism or prejudice, but heard on the merits of the case. Third, justice is not autonomous; it takes all right principles into account; it is not blind to consequences. Fourth, Biblical justice is restorative wherever possible. I’d see this as *starting* by practicing kindness and mercy together with setting limits. Sadly, I see many who profess “social justice” exaggerating facts, quick to condemn others who see justice differently, focusing on single principles out of context, talking without knowledge, and quite frankly, being unkind. Many are not like this, of course, but enough to generate distrust and sour one’s views of the movement.

Marty, I reread my post and wish to add: my last sentences above are a general criticism of the “social justice” movement, based in part on interactions I’ve had over the years. It’s not intended as a criticism toward you. I appreciate your bringing up the topic, and would also appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks m4! My thoughts are that there are valid criticisms of the “social justice” movement over the years, just as there are of the conservative evangelical movement, the mainline churches, etc…
The beauty of the gospel, to me, is that we don’t have to choose between the individual and the social, the personal and the systemic, loving God or loving neighbor. The gospel pertains to all the above (and more!), and God’s loving concern is for all the above (and more!).
I would use the term “social justice Christian” to define myself. But I’m also aware that my anabaptism and concern for personal transformation and love of Jesus will often times make me feel like an outsider among that crowd. Certainly seeing the systemic love of God (ie, social justice) and trying to live that out makes me feel like an outsider to the evangelical crowd.

I appreciate your thoughts and concerns, have raised some of them myself before.

One final thought, given how much I write/talk about justice (which I love!). If it weren’t for systems thinking, I wouldn’t even be able to understand the concept of justice. In studying family systems and system theory in general, I now have a framework to address the systemic, structural, communal in a way I didn’t previously. At first, this left me thinking that the social sciences had outpaced God, and that there was a gap between this kind of thinking and the gospel. I’ve come to realize there’s no gap. God loves us as individuals in a system, or in systems. We are always, only, individuals in community. This, I think, is what John captured in his great phrase, “For God so loved the world.”

Thank you for your response, Rev. T.! I, too, agree that the Gospel applies to all aspects of our existence. I’d also agree and further emphasize that God’s revelation is never outpaced by science or sociology, as His grace is prevenient, going before us. I really appreciate your thought that “we don’t have to choose between …” I believe that this aspect of divine working – unifying seemingly disparate virtues – is often overlooked in discourse. It seems to me more and more that only God can accomplish what the psalmist (Ps. 85) described:

10 “Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.”

Love, faithfulness, righteousness, peace: I see these things breaking loose in Houston in all kinds of places and ways. I do think this is what the works of god are, I’m just hoping to ride the wave of what’s already happening.

To Marty Troyer – The Biblical meaning of the manna (Exodus 16) was to “test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” Keeping Sabbath was also reinforced by the manna’s timing (Ex. 16:22-29). Elsewhere in Torah (Deuteronomy 8:1-5), manna is interpreted as a test and instruction: “feeding you with manna … to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” The Levites (Nehemiah 9) and the psalmist Asaph (Ps. 78) spoke of manna as God’s merciful provision in wilderness, while recounting Israel’s overall history. Jesus taught that following God was the real “bread of life,” more important than manna and other food miracles (John 6), and citing Torah. Nowhere in Scripture is gathering of manna taught as a model for “redistributive justice,” as the speaker asserts.

Wow, what great discussion. She’s made the perfect case for Jesus’s humam ministry of social justice. The man questioning her seems to be unaware of the biblical prophet’s message. He’s got good questions. She’s given him the spark to go read and understand what the ‘confusing’ bible is intended to teach!

I believe the clergy in this country are falling short. This was Jesus’s message. He fulfilled the prophet’s words. The church leaders need to proclaim this loudly and clearly. I’m afraid the media has been better at ‘guiding’ God’s people in this country. Just look at the message Americans hear and believe…”We are a Christian nation”. That’s not exactly the truth, is it? The people have such disdain for their fellow citizens.

Maybe it’s time for an American Jubilee!

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